MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has shot back at critics, asking why the Senate is being pressured to speed up the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte while Congress is on recess, when House lawmakers had sat on the complaint for two months.
“Ginagamit ‘yung salitang ‘immediately ‘ha pero dalawang buwang inupuan ‘yan ng mga congressman. Dalawang buwan inupuan ‘yan ng mga complainant,” Escudero said in a media briefing on Wednesday, February 19. (They’re using the word “immediately,” but that was sat on by the congressmen, the complainants for two months.)
“Sino naman sila ngayon para madaliin kami samantalang sila naman at tila hindi nagmamadali kaugnay sa kanilang reklamo mismo,” he added. Escudero, however, added that he will refer the suggestions to their legal team.
(Who are they now to rush us, when they themselves don’t seem to be in a hurry regarding their own complaint?)
The Senate president made the statement in response to a question about Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares’ position paper submitted to the Senate, urging the upper chamber to convene as an impeachment court during its break. Bayan Muna is one of the complainants in the first three impeachment complaints against the Vice President, filed in December 2024.
Escudero reiterated that no impeachment trial will take place while Congress is on break, as they need to convene as a court which, he believed, can only happen when in session. The fourth impeachment complaint, fast-tracked through a resolution signed by 215 House lawmakers, was transmitted to the Senate on the final session day, February 5. The signatories to the complaint had risen to 240.
The timing of the transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate is tricky, as Congress is on a three-month break for the midterm elections. Seven senators are seeking for reelection and focused on their own campaigns.
Session will resume on June 2 but will adjourn on June 13, leaving only six session days. Escudero has said that the trial will likely begin in the 20th Congress, after new senators are sworn in on June 30 and after the fourth State of the Nation Address on July 21.
Asked if the Senate could take preliminary action, such as sending a copy of the complaint to the Vice President, Escudero said that this is not clearly outlined in the Senate rules and is something they are studying during the recess.
Before the trial, the Senate must provide Duterte with a copy of the articles of impeachment, giving her 10 days to respond. If the Senate does this when session resumes on June 2, there is a high possibility the trial will spill over into the 20th Congress, as only six session days remain.
There has been a debate on whether the Senate should act on the complaint while on recess, as critics argue that the Constitution states the upper chamber “shall proceed forthwith” upon receiving the complaint. This argument was raised by Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel in a letter to Escudero and also by petitioner Catalino Generillo Jr. who had asked the Supreme Court to direct the Senate to start the impeachment trial.
“Forthwith, within the bounds of law. Iligal na mag-convene ako ngayon dahil wala kaming sesyon. Ayaw kong madaliin dahil nag-relax ang Kamara ng dalawang buwan tapos mamadaliin kami ngayon,” Escudero said.
(Forthwith, within the bounds of the law. It would be illegal for me to convene now because we don’t have a session. I don’t want to be rushed when the House had a two-month break and now they’re asking us to hurry.)
In a press briefing on Thursday, February 20, Pimentel said that he would write a second letter to Escudero to request a meeting with fellow senators to discuss impeachment issues.
‘No public clamor’
Responding to questions about a public clamor for the Senate to begin the impeachment trial immediately, Escudero said he believed there was none, based on the lone petition before the SC and the letters he had received as Senate president on the matter.
“Ang sumusulat sa akin, tatlo pa lang. Kailan magiging clamor? Ilang sulat? Tatlo pa lang eh. Tatlong sulat, isang kaso, clamor na ba ‘yun sa libro mo? Sa libro ko, hindi pa. Pangalawa, babalik-tanawan natin ang panahon ni Hesus. May clamor na ipako siya sa krus, hindi naman ibig sabihin totoo o tama ‘yun,” he said.
(Only three have written to me. When does it become a clamor? How many letters? It’s only three. Three letters, one case, is that a clamor in your book? It’s not, in my book. Second, let’s look back at [what happened during] the time of Jesus. There was a clamor to nail him to the cross, but it didn’t mean that it’s true or right.)
This comment that was criticized by netizens who wondered whether their online clamor does not count.
Escudero pointed out that no Congress in the past has convened during recess to begin an impeachment proceeding, citing the cases of the late chief justice Renato Corona and former ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. He stressed that if they were to do so, they would not want to give the impression that the Vice President’s trial is being rushed or treated differently.
“Kung papakinggan ko ‘yung mga gustong ma-impeach si VP Sara at gagawin ko ‘yan, magrereklamo naman ‘yung kabila na minamadali talaga ito. Unawain ninyo, at uulitin ko: Balewala sa akin at hindi bale sa akin ang anumang opinion o suhestiyon o pagtulak ng mga partisano pabor o kontra kay VP Sara. Gagawin namin kung ano ang tingin naming tama at dapat naaayon sa batas at sa Konstitusyon nang hindi nagpapaapekto sa kanila,” he said.
(If I listen to those who want to impeach VP Sara and act on it, the other side will complain that this is being rushed. Please understand, and let me repeat: I don’t care about any opinion, suggestion, or push from partisans, whether in favor of or against VP Sara. We will do what we think is right and in accordance with the law and the Constitution, without being influenced by them.)
Vice President herself filed a petition before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, February 18, blocking her impeachment trial. A group of Mindanao lawyers, allied with former president Rodrigo Duterte, has also filed the same petition. – Rappler.com